In a strategic move to bolster India’s capabilities in quantum-secure communications, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier telecom R&D institution under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Synergy Quantum India Private Limited, a leading deep-tech firm specializing in quantum technologies.
The MoU outlines a collaborative effort to develop drone-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems using the decoy-state BB84 protocol with polarization encoding, targeting a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6 or higher. This initiative supports the national agenda of "Atmanirbhar Bharat" by advancing indigenous innovation in secure telecom technologies.
The partnership will focus on the joint development of drone-compatible quantum communication systems and the co-creation of research proposals for both domestic and international grant opportunities. The collaboration also includes plans for scholarly publications, expert talks, and organizing conferences and workshops centered around emerging themes in quantum communication.
Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “Public-private collaboration is key to building a secure, self-reliant digital future for India. Quantum technologies offer transformative potential for next-generation communications, and our alliance with Synergy Quantum aims to develop robust indigenous solutions that align with national priorities and global ambitions.”
Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Jay Oberoi, Founder and CEO of Synergy Quantum India, said, “This partnership with C-DOT presents an extraordinary opportunity to position India as a global leader in drone-enabled quantum-secure communication.”
The MoU was signed in a ceremony attended by Dr. Upadhyay and senior officials from both organizations, including Dr. Pankaj Dalela and Ms. Shikha Srivastava from C-DOT, and Mr. Ajay Singh, Dr. Vipin Rathi, and AM G S Bedi from Synergy Quantum. This collaboration is expected to pave the way for next-gen quantum-secure telecom infrastructure, crucial for defence, critical infrastructure, emergency response, and secure government communications.